EULOGY for KUO TUNG CHENG by ELSIE (Hua Ung) CHENG, daughter, June 25, 2008,

Toronto, Ontario,  Canada

Good Morning.  On behalf of my family, thank you for coming.

When my siblings voted me to prepare a Eulogy for my father, I “freaked” but my cousin Emily who is the 2nd daughter of my father’s eldest brother said to me “just speak from the heart”.

Well what can I say about my father? If I were to tell you the story of my father’s early life and then together with my mother during and after the 2nd world war, how they struggled to make a better life for their children, you would cry “buckets”…But I don’t think my father would like that. So let me share a few good memories that I had of my father which I hope will help to describe the kind of person he really is.

Even though God gave him a living heart that is defective, spiritually I am grateful that he gave my father a good heart.  He is the kindest person I know. For instance, at his restaurant, he would take time to listen to the young Allied Soldiers most of them barely 17 years old wanting to see the world, joined to fight in the North Korean War; Or at his hotel, he gave money and bought dinner for a young German peace corp. who hadn’t eaten or drink for a few days because he did not receive the funds from his organization. He would rescue exotic animals by purchasing them from the natives at the local market so for us growing up, for pets we had a monkey, different kinds of birds such as a peacock, even a mouse deer native to Borneo that looked like “Bambi”. My father loved all kinds of music. For example as children, we were privileged to be exposed to great artists’ music of the 50’s and 60’s, such as Chubby Checker, Chuck Berry, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and The Beatles to name a few.  He would always find time to play chess, table tennis, or badminton with us.

How he and my mother came to settle in Canada in 1978 was because of all of his Children. My brother (Stephen) was the first to immigrate then the rest of us followed.

My father loved Canada. Due to his love for all kinds of sports, he fell in love with Hockey immediately. He and my mother know more about who’s who in Hockey, Baseball, Tennis, and Soccer than most of us combined. My father is also very creative but in a practical, recycling way.  I used to wonder why he kept some large cranberry plastic bottles.  Then one day I discovered a bird feeder made from a Cranberry plastic bottle that would not last through winter of course. He also loves flowers and even planted perennials around the trees on the sidewalk in front of his house that was City property.

Another unique character I think that my father had is his hospitality. Not only would he fight or sneak to pay for breakfast lunch or dinner when with friends or relatives. I remember when friends or relatives would visit from South- east Asia, for preparation, he would buy different weights of blankets and duvets just in case.  Of course it drove my mother nuts because she would have the task of figuring out where to store them. So now there are dozens to give away to shelters which my sister and I think he would have done.

Lastly I would like to quote the unknown author who “penned” this definition of love that best describes my father.

Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous, conceited or proud.  Love is not ill mannered, selfish or irritable.  Love does not keep a record of wrongs.  Love has no boundaries or prejudice.  Love is happy, and finally love is eternal and never gives up.

I know that if all Mankind has my father’s heart, there would certainly be Peace in the World.  Thank you.